Looking up...
然而
rán ér
What does "然而" mean in English?
but他很努力，然而还是失败了。
He worked very hard, but still failed.
How to use "然而" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
formal
Used to introduce a contrast with what has been said previously; however; but.
这部电影看起来很无聊，然而观众们都很喜欢。
The movie looks boring, yet the audience loves it.
他学习很努力，然而成绩并不理想。
He studies hard, but his grades are not ideal.
More formal than '但是' or '不过', often used in written Chinese or formal speech.
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Contrast
Use '然而' in essays, reports, or formal speeches to sound more sophisticated. For everyday conversation, stick to '但是' or '不过'.
Gold Rule
Placement in Sentences
'然而' typically appears at the beginning of a clause to introduce a contrast. It cannot replace '但是' in mid-sentence positions like '但是' can.
Word Origin
Composed of '然' (thus, so) and '而' (and, but), combining to mean 'but in this way' or 'however'. The word has been used in classical Chinese and retained its meaning in modern Mandarin.
Usage Notes
While '然而' is grammatically correct, in spoken Mandarin, '但是', '不过', or '可是' are more commonly used for contrast. '然而' is preferred in formal writing or literary contexts.
Word Breakdown
然
thus, so
root而
and, but
conjunction汉英词典